Computed Tomography

Welcome to the CT Practice page

This is where you will find useful links to groups, resources and publications to help you deliver of a safe, evidenced based CT service.

CT Special Interest Groups:

• Head Reporting - National CT Head Reporting Group contact: Tamsin Arnold :[email protected]
• Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography (PET CT) Special Interest Group contact Helen Mason, Senior Radiographer in PET-CT at Addenbrookes Hospital Cambridge [email protected]
• CT Scottish Special Interest Group (CTSSIG) contact John Airlie: [email protected]
• CT Leads SIG contact Andrew Stephens: [email protected]

Useful documents

National Best Practice Guidelines for the CT Colonography Service

The Role of the Radiographer in CT

Radiographer Reporting Statement

CPD

e-Learning for Health modules (e-LfH) have a large library of learning modules related to CT.

http://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/login

Publications

Weight-adapted iodinated contrast media administration in abdomino-pelvic CT: Can image quality be maintained?

Iterative reconstruction and automatic tube voltage selection reduce clinical CT radiation doses and image noise

Benefit-risk communication in paediatric imaging: What do referring physicians, radiographers and radiologists think, say and do?

Are reporting radiographers fulfilling the role of advanced practitioner? 

CT Colonography for radiographers; A Guide to Performance and Image Interpretation

Stroke Imaging

Stroke and transient ischaemic attack in over 16s: diagnosis and initial management 
NICE Guideline NG128 published May 2019

Useful publications https://www.sor.org/practice/cross-sectional-imaging/stroke-imaging

NICEimpact stroke report 2019

Mechanical Thrombectomy

https://www.england.nhs.uk/2017/04/stroke-patients-in-england-set-to-receive-revolutionary-new-treatment/

Radiation Protection

PHE NDRL Website new or updated values November 2018

Employers have a responsibility to ensure that all employees are adequately trained for the radiation work they carry out. Radiographers working in CT are gatekeepers for a high radiation dose pathway and as such require particular skills in image optimisation with regard to vulnerable groups such as individuals who are or may be breastfeeding, individuals of childbearing potential, children and young adults.

The Department of Health (DoH) has written to all Trusts with recommendations for good practice in CT. https://www.sor.org/ezines/toptalk/issue-149/radiology-managers-asked-support-plans-improve-safety

Ask yourself these questions:

·       Do you feel well informed about the UK radiation protection legislation relevant to radiographic practice?

·       Have you heard of the COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2013/59/EURATOM?

·       Do you know about how the new 2017 Regulations will affect your practice?

·       Do you use “Pause & Check” in your department?

·       Do you have an Image Optimisation Team in your department?

·       Does your CPD involve elements of radiation protection? (Please note that as an SoR member, this is compulsory)

·       Have you seen the IAEA’s radiation protection of patients’ website? (https://rpop.iaea.org/RPoP/RPoP/Content/index.htm)

·       Do you image gently?http://www.imagegently.org/

·       Are your CT protocols child-size?

If you have answered “No” to any of these questions, then you need some help.

SCoR is here to help you. Please see the radiation protection pages for more information. https://www.sor.org/practice/radiation-protection

Practice

Assistant Practitioners

If you are an assistant practitioner working as part of a CT team we would love to hear from you. Tell us what you do and what impact it has on your service.

Find out more about the scope of practice of an assistant practitioner here

Radiographers

Radiographers may work in CT on a rotational basis or as an experienced specialist or advanced practitioner.

If you have developed an innovative service within your CT department or if you are involved in CT related research and would like to share your work contact us at [email protected]

Advanced Practitioners, Consultant Practitioners and Reporting Radiographers

Non-medical advanced practitioners are increasingly expected to be educated to Masters Level and Consultant Practitioners to Doctorate Level. The College of Radiographers supports and encourages accreditation at both levels of practice.

Find out about accreditation here: https://www.sor.org/career-progression/advanced-practitioners/advanced-practitioner-accreditation

https://www.sor.org/career-progression/consultants/consultant-practitioner-accreditation

NHS Improvement supports job planning for AHPs

Managers

• Have you developed an innovative staffing model for your 24-hour CT service that you believe would benefit patients elsewhere?
• What further support would you like to see available via our web pages?
• Contact us at [email protected]

Education and Governance

CT National Occupational Standards

• Skills for Health, national occupational standards
• Produce CT scanning images for diagnostic purposes
• Produce Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) images for diagnostic purposes
• Produce Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT/CT) images for diagnostic purposes

Legal framework for managing medicines in CT

Contrast agents, like all Prescription Only Medicines (POM’s), must be prescribed prior to administration.

These links and documents will help in understanding the legal framework:

• Prescribing
• Certificate of iv administration
• Patient Group Directions pgds